Late goal earns a point

A LAST-gasp Paul McManus equaliser saw Brechin take a late point from Gayfield in the Angus derby against Arbroath on Saturday (writes Jennifer Newton).

The home side went ahead midway through the second half when Josh Falkingham’s close range effort beat Craig Nelson as he poked it in the back of the net.

With time running out it looked as though the Glebe Park men were heading for yet another defeat.

But substitutes Derek Carcary and Paul McManus combined to ensure City took home a share of the points, with McManus tapping in an injury-time equaliser.

It was Brechin who had the pick of the early chances and they were unlucky not to open the scoring in the first few minutes.

Charlie King connected with a cross sent into the box but his header rattled the crossbar and the Arbroath defence managed to clear the ball away.

Minutes later Jim Lister also tried his luck with a close range shot but Lichties’ ‘keeper Darren Hill was on hand to make a reaction save.

As the first half went on, Arbroath came into the game with Gavin Swankie and Falkingham coming close to scoring.

Malcolm came close for Arbroath when Malcolm too rattled the crossbar with a header midway throught the half.

But it was just before the interval that the best chance of the half fell to the home team.

Steven Doris was sent through on goal with only Nelson to beat. He chipped his shot up but luckily for City his effort went high over the bar.

The home side started the second half as the brighter team with Brian Kerr having a great opportunity not long after the restart.

The deadlock was finally broken in the 64th minute when the Lichties scored.

A Swankie corner bounced around in the Brechin box as the defence failed to clear the ball, and Falkingham popped up with the easy task of slotting the ball in the back of the net.

The goal seemed to give Arbroath confidence and prompted City Manager Jim Weir into making three substitutions in the next 17 minutes, with McManus, Carcary and McKenna replacing Lister, Crawford and King.

As the minutes counted down it looked as though all three points would be staying with the Lichties.

But the Brechin subs seemed to revive the team and it was them who did the damage to make sure they could take a share of the points in the 89th minute.

A City counter attack saw Carcary pull away on the right hand side and put a deep cross into the box.

The ball then fell to McManus who side-footed the ball over the line to earn the draw.